Tom,
Thank you for a useful and constructive email.
I'll let larger publishers speak up if they have any further news but we have heard nothing from Swets for a couple of weeks, and I gather the poor Swets staff on the ground - who have always been excellent - found out around the same time as librarians and publishers, some even from this list.
At the end of August, Swets wrote to us confirming the establishment of “Stichting Management Prepayments Swets” (see sections pasted below, there is nothing on my letter marking it confidential). I know that many librarians know this, and that the new account -- designed to avoid the comingling of library subscriptions and operating funds -- has been vetted by library purchasing consortia, who may want to leap in here.
Swets has made no secret of putting itself up for sale and one scenario is that the administration is a facilitator for the sale, but I have no crystal ball and we all really need a statement from Swets at the earliest possible opportunity.
If publisher announcements seem to be focusing on payment it is because that is the live issue for 2015. Announcements to this listserv are to ensure everyone knows to sit tight until we know more, so that there is less for publishers and librarians to untangle in the next few months. But then librarians know to sit tight under the circumstances so you probably don't need a publisher reminder every 5 minutes....
Hope helpful,
Anthony
LETTER EXTRACT:
"We have therefore been in discussions with a number of potential new partners over the past couple of months. We expect to be able to confirm the new arrangements, and provide more detail in good time for the commencement of the 2015 subscription processes in October.
It is inevitable that the changes the Company is currently undergoing, and the qualification of the 2013 annual report will cause some anxiety about our financial stability. We have therefore made special
arrangements for future prepayments to be received from customers for the 2015 subscription year to carry us over the period of the sale in order to give both clarity and security to our customers and
publishers about these monies. We have established a foundation: “Stichting Management Prepayments Swets” with dedicated bank accounts to hold these future prepayments separate from our normal trading accounts.
The Foundation is an independent legal entity under Dutch law specifically set up for the sole purpose of receiving these future prepayments and the provision of securities which take place within the Swets
& Zeitlinger Group BV for the duration of the current sale process of the organisation . The Foundation will not conduct any other activities. The prepayments to be received by the Foundation will be secured
via a bank guarantee."
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………
Anthony Cond | Director
Liverpool University Press | 4 Cambridge Street, Liverpool L69 7ZU, UK
www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk
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-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by UKSG - Connecting the Information Community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bishop, Tom
Sent: 24 September 2014 16:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [lis-e-resources] Publisher messages re Swets
Hi all,
For the sake of understanding more about the situation and the implications, would a publisher's representative on this list be able/willing to relay to us the wording of any correspondence they have received from Swets stating their situation? I'm aware for instance that ALPSP publishers received a message on 22nd September - if someone is willing to share that, or at least the Swets statement, or anything received subsequently, it would be appreciated. Alternatively, have any libraries received direct formal communication from Swets?
The reason I'm asking is that as things stand, the information we have as customers from Swets themselves seems to be minimal. I don't think this should in any way be taken to reflect badly on Swets in Abingdon, as clearly all action relating to sales negotiations and legal proceedings and communications relating to these are being handled centrally from Leiden. My concern is that at present we're primarily receiving and reliant on reported information. We're in a case where we're concerned with a legal situation that necessarily involves Dutch legal terminology and process, which (certainly on my part, not being someone who could choose 'Dutch insolvency law' as my specialist subject on 'Mastermind') potentially increases the opportunities for a lack of full understanding; for instance the article in the Bookseller refers to Swets appointing a 'liquidator' - is that a genuinely accurate translation?
I'm fully aware that this probably sounds naïve, and that picking up on the use/misuse of a single word probably sounds like the worst possible example of pedantry while Rome burns, but it's not intended to be - my point is that to be able to make fully informed, and as Claire says potentially enormous decisions, possibly very quickly, we need to be fully and accurately informed from all sides, and at present I'm not sure we are.
Thank you,
Tom.
-----Original Message-----
From: An informal open list set up by UKSG - Connecting the Information Community [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Judith Stevens
Sent: 24 September 2014 14:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [lis-e-resources] Publisher messages re Swets
Well said Claire. I just had a conversation with Karena from Swets and she was almost in tears, very distraught, I really felt for her - and the others too.
Yes it will be an enormous work load for lots of us. Fortunately I have a great time behind me but am feeling a bit overwhelmed at present, normal renewal time plus this plus an office move plus a tender for a new LMS.
However I will still have job at the end of it.
Thanks for raising this subject, maybe it is a chance for publishers to show they are not all avaricious ******s insert your own expletive.
All best wishes
Judith
On 24 September 2014 14:34, Claire.Grace <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> We have seen a growing number of messages from publishers to this list
> over the last few days, drawing our attention to the announcement from
> Swets. Firstly I would like to say publically how sad I was to see
> this announcement and how much I feel for the staff at Swets.
>
> Secondly, it would be appreciated if publishers would reassure us that
> they understand the enormity of any work we might need to undertake to
> change our current arrangements for subscriptions by providing details
> of how they will grace access to their content as we work through this
> extremely difficult situation.
>
> I have almost invariably seen information about payments but what
> about the access?
>
> Best regards
> Claire Grace
>
> Head of Content and Licensing
> The Open University Library
> Walton Hall
> Milton Keynes
> MK7 6AA
> Tel: +44(0)1908 653291
> Fax: +44(0)1908 652211
>
>
> -- The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391),
> an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in
> Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated
> by the Financial Conduct Authority.
>
> lis-e-resources is a UKSG list - http://www.uksg.org UKSG groups also
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> https://twitter.com/UKSG
>
--
Judith Stevens
Library Support Services Manager
The Library
Keele University
Keele
Staffs. ST5 5BG
01782 733637
htttp://www.keele.ac.uk/library
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